Tourism and the Changing Face of the British Isles

A week on the beach, a day at the spa, a hike in the hills--tourism is taken for granted today, but holidays used to be limited to a handful of wealthy people. Over the past five hundred years, it has played a significant role in the shaping of modern Britain. This book traces the story of tourism in Britain from the Middle Ages to the present day. It shows how holidays and the pursuit of leisure have created destinations--sometimes entire towns--and radically reshaped the countryside. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this wide-ranging study examines topics such as pilgrimages, spas, and seaside holidays as it follows the development of tourism from an elite experience to a mass enthusiasm.